Janome Metal Cloth Guide

No matter what type of sewing you do; garments, quilting, bag making, etc. accuracy often plays a very important function in the overall success of the project. Pieces won’t line up; garments won’t fit right if the seam allowance isn’t sewn at the correct measurement as indicated on the pattern.

Janome has many tools; presser feet and cloth guides to help keep that seam allowance a correct, consistent width. One of the most useful and versatile tools is the metal Janome Cloth Guide which attaches to the needle plate with a small screw, or the bed of the machine with a slightly longer screw. The cloth guide, also known as a Seam Guide, is adjustable, so position it at 5/8″ for your garment patterns; 1/2″ for your home dec or tote bags projects; or 1/4″ for quilt piecing. It’s sew versatile!

Janome Cloth Guide

There are many types of Janome Cloth Guides for the various machine models, as described in this previous Janome Life blog. The metal Cloth Guide is the most universal as any sewing machine with a threaded screw hole in the needle plate or in the bed of the machine can use this type of Cloth Guide.

Many machines come with this metal Cloth Guide, such the fabulous Janome HD-9 and Janome HD-9BE Black Edition.

Janome HD-9 – high speed straight stitch machine.

Janome HD-9 BE Black Edition also comes with a large extension table!

The metal Cloth Guide also comes included in the Janome Quilting Attachment Kit, which is available separately, but also comes as a BONUS included in many models, such as the Janome 3160 QOV-C, Janome 4120 QDC, Janome 5300QDC – the list goes on! Double check with your Janome dealer for details.

Janome Quilting Attachment Kit

I was recently piecing a quilt top together and turned to my trusty Janome HD-9 with metal Cloth Guide to help make short work of the process. At 1600 stitches per minute, I LOVE the speed of the Janome HD-9 and almost always use the included metal Cloth Guide to keep my seams accurate at such a high speed.

All Janome sewing machines have markings on the needle plate which help you line up your fabric as needed. Aligning the Cloth Guide with the 1/4″ mark is super simple. It’s always a good idea to do a test sew to be sure the Cloth Guide is positioned exactly where you need it.

If it’s off just a bit simply loosen the screw, move the guide, and tighten the screw again. Use a screwdriver if you need to make sure the guide stays securely in place.

When aligned with the 1/4″ mark on the Janome HD-9, the Janome Cloth Guide is just to the right of the feed dogs.

There’s just enough room for my seam ripper to fit in between the presser foot and the Cloth Guide.

If you need that special “scant” 1/4″, no problem; it’s super simple to achieve! Loosen the screw and slide the Cloth Guide closer to the presser foot. In my case with the Janome HD-9, I slid the guide to snug up against the presser foot, then tightened the screw again.

For the blocks I was piecing, I did not need to use a scant 1/4″ seam allowance, so I positioned the Cloth Guide against the 1/4″ marking on the needle plate. It worked out beautifully! When seamed together, my pieces; 1.5″ x 3″ light and 3″x 3″ print, finished at exactly 4″x 3″ as desired. The seamline is exactly at the 1 1/4″ markings on the ruler, so I know I’m good to proceed with piecing my blocks together to finish my quilt top.

I LOVE using the Janome Cloth Guides as they definitely help improve my accuracy, making me a better sewist than I actually am, especially when I sew “pedal to the metal” as I always prefer to do! lol!

Happy Sewing!

Experimenting with Janome’s NEW 9mm Narrow Piping Foot (I2)

Last year my Mum politely asked me to recover some pillows for her. I love her so I said yes. In fact, I love her soooooo much that I made pillows with zippers AND piping. That my friends, is a lot of love. She is a fantastic Mum so she does deserve all the love.

Photo credit to my (Amanda) Mum Nancy!

Janome’s Piping Foot (1) Part Number 202088004 was a dream for making and attaching the piping to these pillows. Imagine how excited I was to learn that Janome now has a NEW Narrow Piping Foot (I2) for 9mm machines! Part Number 202462006. This foot is made for 2mm cord and smaller.

Have I ever told you that I went University and College for Science and Environmental Sciences? I sure did. I thought this would be a great time to break out my experimenting skills to put these 2 presser feet to the test. Please note I have been out of this industry for almost 15 years so my science skills are rusty and this experiment probably wouldn’t hold up to a peer reviewed journal standards, lol!

If you are new to a Piping Foot and want an in-depth look at how they work check out this link for some great blog posts. Both the Janome Piping Foot and the Janome Narrow Piping foot work the exact same way. 

Question: Between the Piping Foot (I) and the Narrow Piping Foot (I2) which one will suit your sewing needs?

Tools: On the left we have the NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2) and on the right we have the original regular Janome Piping Foot (I).

Please note both are for 9mm machines. There is an original regular Janome Piping Foot (I) for 7mm machines, Part Number  200314006. The top of each presser foot looks fairly similar except the Narrow Piping Foot (I2) has a groove down the middle marking the centre of the foot.

Notice below the difference in the sizes of the grooves on the bottom of the presser feet. The top is the regular Janome Piping Foot (I) and the channels underneath are much larger than the channels on the Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2).

Top: Janome Piping Foot (I)
Bottom: Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2)

Experiment 1: 2mm Cord with Thin Fabrics

With the Janome Piping Foot (I) there are a few issues which pop up with this combo. The channel of the foot is so big that the cording moves around, so its hard to get an even line of stitching. The piping was moving further away from the needle as I stitched and the needle hole on the top only allows you to move the needle over so far.

Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2)

Janome Piping Foot *(I)

In the photos above, you will see on the left the Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2) where the needle position can get really tight to the cord. In the photo on the right the original Janome Piping Foot (I) the needle is much farther away from the cord. In the photo below the original Janome Piping Foot (I) was used to stitch the top sample of piping, and the stitching is quite far from the cord. The bottom sample of piping was stitched using the NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2) and I still could have gotten the stitches a little closer to the piping by moving the needle over a notch or two to the right.

Top: Janome Piping Foot (I)
Bottom: NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2)

Experiment 2: 5mm Cord with Upholstery Fabric.

Try not to laugh too hard at the photos below. You can easily see that the photo on the right with the Janome Piping Foot (I) accommodates this piping with ease. The NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2) on the left, however, is a disaster. You might as well just sew with your normal Zig-Zag Foot (A) or Zipper Foot (E) at this point.

NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2(

Janome Piping Foot (I)

The results in the finished piping really seals the deal on this one. The Janome Piping Foot (I) on the top looks well defined and secure. The NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2) has given us uneven piping and where it looks like the piping is sitting really nicely on the right, I’ve actually sewed over the cord and the cord is below the stitch line. The presser foot is simply too small for this size of cording!

Top: Janome Piping Foot (I)
Bottom: Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2)

Experiment 3: 3mm Cord and Quilting Cotton

I love this one! Both the regular and narrow Piping Feet work really well with this set up. Left is the Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2) and on the right is the Janome Piping Foot (I). I felt like I could get the stitching nice and close with either of these feet.

NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2)

Janome Piping Foot (I)

One thing to keep in mind in this scenario, though, the NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2) may be perfect for making the piping, but as you add more layers when you sandwich your piping in between layers of other fabric, the narrow channels may not accommodate the fabric as well. In this scenario you could absolutely use your zipper foot or if you have the regular Janome Piping Foot (I) you could switch over to that.

Top: Janome Piping Foot (I)
Bottom: NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2)

Experiment 4: How tiny can you go with the NEW Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2)?

Teeny Tiny! That finished piping is just under 2mm!! This will be perfect for any fine detail piping you may want to add to clothing, bags, quilts or projects around your house!

Left 2mm Cord, Right 4mm Cord

Conclusion:

Both these presser feet are amazing for making and attaching piping to your projects. The channels on the bottom really hold the cording and fabric secure and give you a nice finish, making all your projects look professional.

Which Janome Piping Foot that will be perfect for your projects really depends on your fabrics and what size your cording is. Any cord 3mm or larger, or when using any heavy fabric, you will want to use the regular Janome Piping Foot (I). For cords smaller than 3mm and for lighter weight fabric you will want the NEW Janome Piping Foot (I2). Or maybe you just need both!

Stitch On!

AmandaBee

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Broadcast….

We sew appreciate your loyalty and support of Janome HQ, but alas, there will be NO LIVE at 1pm EST @janomehq Instagram page this afternoon.

HOWEVER, there is a NEW video uploaded to the Janome HQ You Tube channel under the Janome’s Magical Machine Mystery Tour playlist, so we can continue to share the Janome love even though it’s not “live”.

This is the perfect time to get caught up on any presentations you might have missed as they’re all stored in IGTV on the @janomehq Instagram Page and on the Janome HQ You Tube channel.

What machine and Janome goodies will we talk about on Magical Machine Mystery Tour? It’s a MYSTERY so you must tune in each week for the big reveal!

Want to know answers to questions about your machine or about Janome products? Tune in every other week for Ask Janome HQ. Depending on the question, it may be answered LIVE!

Don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE presentation, though. They’ll be stored in the IGTV icon on the Janome HQ Instagram Page and later posted as videos on the Janome HQ You Tube channel.

Follow us on the Janome HQ Facebook page to see what’s new at our Janome Canada Headquarters, our Janome HQ!

Happy Sewing and #sharethejanomelove!

Today’s Facebook LIVE – Back to School!

On today’s Janome Sewing Machine Facebook LIVE at 3pm Eastern, Celine is back from her vacation and will show you how to make a cute placemat the kids could use at school.

Though Celine often uses the fabulous NEW Janome Continental M17. or Janome MC15000 Quilt Maker to demonstrate her techniques, many Janome models come with the same presser feet, or they can be purchased from your local Janome Dealer, so everyone can share in the fun!

Janome Continental M17.

Check out our handy bilingual Janome Accessories Guide or click on the Accessories Tab on Janome.CA. to find the presser feet and accessories compatible with your machine. Click the Products tab, then scroll down to find “View all Accessories“. Click there to access the Search Box or to scroll through the pages to find the accessories you’d like. Click on the picture/description to find the Part Number and machine compatibility. And, as always, check with your fabulous Janome Dealer!

Bilingual Janome Accessories Guide on the Janome.CA website

Don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE. All of the presentations will be saved under the Videos tab of the Janome Sewing Machines Facebook page. Use the Search Box to find all the videos with Celine Ross.

Don’t have a Facebook account, don’t worry, they will be uploaded to the Janome HQ You Tube channel under the Facebook Live playlist to enjoy whenever you wish!

Happy Sewing!

Joining Batting Tips

Do you have pieces of batting left over from a project and wonder what to do with them? Pieces you’d like to use up instead of adding them to the landfill. Little scraps might end up as stuffing for a pillow or a pet bed, but what about those in-between pieces, those which are too big to just toss away, yet too small to use in a quilt? Why not join the batting together to make one bigger piece?!

The process is super easy to do, and can be done on any Janome sewing machine, or even non-Janome machines, as well, lol! I’m using my beloved Janome MC9450QCP with the AcuFeed Flex Dual/Twin Foot Holder with the Ditch Quilting Foot (SD). The guide in the centre of the foot helps keep the batting edges butted together as I sew without overlapping.

When joining batting together make sure it is the same type of batting. It will be difficult to join an 80/20 batting with a high loft wool batting, for example, so keep like batting together.

Did you know that most battings have a right and wrong side? It sometimes takes close examination, but orienting the batting the correct way can make a difference in the finished quilted project. Some battings placed with the wrong side up can beard through the backing fabric and show on the back side of the quilt. You want to orient the batting so it’s placed on the quilt the way it was manufactured. The “dirty” side goes down, or the “dimples” are on top and the “pimples” are on the bottom.

Cut the edges of the batting pieces in a very straight line. To do this, place two pieces of batting on top of each other and use the edge of your long ruler and a rotary cutter to straighten the edge of both pieces at the same time. It is best to butt the batting edges together than to overlap them as it will avoid extra bulk and keep the finished quilt, or whatever the project, flat. Once completed, no one will ever know you “cheated”. lol!

When sewing the two pieces together, we want the batting to be as flat as possible, so I like using the multi-step zig-zag, which is stitch #10 in the Utility category of my machine, instead of the regular zig-zag stitch. The multi-step zig-zag stitch adds extra stitches in between the points, so the batting stays super flat, and doesn’t pull. If your machine just does a regular zig-zag stitch, you might try reducing your top tension to or to sew using the Janome Low Tension/Blue Dot Bobbin Holder.

To help avoid the stitches from pulling and distorting the batting, adjust the width and length of your stitch. I adjust the width of my machine to 7-9mm and length to 3mm. Make sure to match the thread to the colour of the batting as you don’t want it to shadow through the fabric which will go next to it. I used pink for demonstration purposes only.

Sew the pieces together without pulling on the batting, let the machine do the work.

Enjoy using up all those leftover batting pieces, which saves money, and the planet!

Monique

Sew4Home Mini Sewing Tips – Madeira Serger Thread

Aerolock and Aeroflock for the Urge to Serge

While most of the projects on Sew4Home feature sewing rather than serging, that doesn’t mean we aren’t fans of using a serger/overlocker! A serger is the ideal way to create a clean edge on any seam. Not only does the cutting blade trim the fabric edge, the upper and lower looper threads wrap around that edge, securing and protecting it from fraying. A pro finish every time! You can read more about our serger love in the S4H article: The Top Five Reasons To Own a Serger.

Janome AT2000D Air Thread Serger.

Today, we want to talk a bit about the serger thread you should use in your machine – specifically, Madeira Aerolock and Aeroflock. First off, YES, it is best to use “serger/overlock” thread in your serger. Made specifically for the machine’s interlocking motion, serger thread is smooth and consistent in diameter so it can pass quickly and easily through the guides and prevent knots from forming along the edges.

Madeira Aerolock and Aeroflock serger thread is finer than regular sewing machine thread; two-ply versus regular three-ply, which is why it is also specially wound on a cone and comes in larger yardages than a traditional sewing thread spool. The thread unwinds off the top of the spool, allowing it to flow tangle-free into the serger for high-speed sewing. As with all of Madeira’s quality thread types, Aerolock and Aeroflock do not leave a lot of lint that could clog the serger.

Madeira Aerolock is a strong, two-ply core-spun 100% polyester thread popular for all-purpose serging. “Core-spun” means the thread is a polyester core wrapped in polyester. This two-ply combination makes the fiber strong and resilient, even at the super high speeds for which sergers are famous.

Janome FA 4 Free Arm Serger.

Because a typical overlock stitch has several threads used together in one seam, it’s best to use a two-ply thread versus a three-ply thread to eliminate bulk. Madeira Aerolock is in two weights: the 125 is the most common and popular, but there is also a lighter weight Aerolock 180. Both options are perfect to keep seams soft and to stretch with knits without breakage. It’s also colorfast!

Janome Canada stocks Madeira Aerolock serger thread in two sizes and color selections to coordinate with your fabric: Aerolock 125  in 33 colors on 2743 yard/2500 meter cones and Aerolock 180 in 12 colors on 2200 yard/2000 meter cones.

Janome PRO 4DX Serger.

While Madeira Aerolock is typically used in the serger’s needles, we love using the heavier-weight Madeira Aeroflock in the loopers. It’s a fluffy, textured thread with a bit of stretch to it. Take advantage of that stretch for knits and swimwear, and because Madeira Aeroflock is so soft, it’s a good choice on clothing for babies and children so the finished edges aren’t rough against their delicate skin. But, we all like soft edges; we use it on nearly all our personal clothing projects!

Because Madeira Aeroflock is a 100% polyester thread, it won’t melt with the heat of the iron or dryer the way similar threads that use nylon will.

Slightly heavier than the Madeira Aerolock, Madeira Aeroflock wonderfully fills in the seam, allowing you to create perfect rolled hems. Try it along the edge of a placemat or napkin! Its weight and texture also makes it wonderful for decorative techniques.

Janome Canada stocks Madeira Aeroflock serger thread in 24 colors on 1100 yard/1000 meter spools. And, YES, those 24 colors are within the same color range as the Madeira Aerolock, so everything matches beautifully.

Janome 7034D Magnolia Serger

Janome Canada also offers two great boxed sets:

All three serger thread options are just $9.99 per spool – very economical at the larger spool sizes!

The Janome Mini King box with 24 1320 yard/1000 meter spools in the most used, everyday colors: 4 Black, 4 Dark Gray, 8 White, and 4 Cream. It retails for $199.00.

The Madeira Aerolock Mini King box contains 1320 yard/1000 meter spools in 12 of the most popular colors. It retails for $119.99.

Check with your local Janome Canada dealer for more information about the boxed sets as well as which displays of individual spools and cones they may carry.

By: Liz Johnson, Senior Editor, Sew4Home.com

Hobby Patch Monthly Embroidery Series; Patch #2

Our friends from Sew4Home.Com have done it again! In order to help you get the most from your Janome embroidery machines, the Sew4Home team has created a super fun collection of lifestyle patches for you to create and use however you wish! Embellish a tote bag you take to the beach or when camping; use to repair a ripped old jean jacket or the knee of your kid’s jeans, there’s sew many creative possibilites!

So long as your machine has a 5″x 5″ hoop and a USB port, which every current model of Janome embroidery or embroidery combo machine has, you’re good to go! If your machine does not have a big enough embroidery hoop, perhaps it’s time to consider upgrading. Contact one of our Janome Canada dealers for details!

In August we debuted the Hobby Patch Monthly Embroidery Series which will feature a fun new embroidery design for a total of 7 months, courtesy of our friends at Sew4Home. Each month a new JEF embroidery file will be uploaded to the INSPIRE tab/ Sew4Home tab on our Janome.CA website. Hobby Patch #1 is Adventure.

Hobby Patch #1 Adventure

If you miss a month, not to worry. Check back to Janome.CA each month to collect all 7 patches. Each month will be a different theme, so there’s something for everyone.

With September being National Sewing month, it’s totally fitting we have a Sewing Machine patch, “Eat. Sew. Sleep” which is Hobby Patch #2!

I’m sure we all wish we had more time to sew and could live this mantra everyday! lol! With nights drawing in a little earlier, kids back in school, many of us use this opportunity to get caught up on some sewing projects, or of course, start new ones. The Holidays are just around the corner! lol!

Join me, Michael Smith, National Education Manager of Janome Canada, and Liz Johnson, Senior Editor of Sew4Home.Com LIVE the THIRD Thursday of every month at 3pm Eastern on the Janome Canada Facebook page as we reveal each month’s Hobby Patch, as well as share special sneak peeks and tips and tricks on all things sewing.

If you can’t make the LIVE presentation, not to worry. The LIVES are stored in the Media/Videos tab on the Janome Canada Facebook page, and will be uploaded to the Janome HQ You Tube channel under the Sew4Home Playlist, so you may view whenever convenient for you.

Not only can you share the Janome love by tagging us on social media #sharethejanomelove, #janomecanada, #janomehq, to show us how YOU have used your patches, you can also use these patches to wear your Janome love!

Full instructions are provided in the links on Janome.CA, but of course you’ll need a rainbow of colours of luscious embroidery thread, stabilizer, needles, bobbin thread, etc. to stitch out your patches, so be sure to contact your Janome dealer with your supply list!

Happy Sewing!

Janome Canada LIVE with Sew4Home!

Just in time to celebrate National Sewing month, we’re back for another LIVE presentation with our friend, Liz Johnson, from Sew4Home!

Join us LIVE at 3pm Eastern/ 12pm Pacific on the Janome Canada Facebook Page as Liz shares with us some tips to achieve the distinct Sashiko style stitching. We also have the details of the debut of our second embroidery patch in the fun, adorable Hobby Patch embroidery series!

Don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE. All presentations will be stored under the VIDEOS tab on the Janome Canada Facebook page, and will be uploaded to the Janome HQ You Tube channel.

Our next Janome Canada Facebook/Sew4Home LIVE will be Thursday, October 20th at 3pm Eastern/12pm Pacific. We hope to see you there!

Happy Sewing!

@janomehq Instagram LIVE series “Ask Janome HQ” TODAY at 1pm EST!

Join us LIVE at 1pm EST @janomehq Instagram page this afternoon for our series, “Ask Janome HQ” as we read and answer your questions asked by e-mail and on our Janome Canada social media. When possible, we’ll also try to answer questions LIVE, so tune in to join in the FUN while we learn about all things Janome.

“Ask Janome HQ” will be presented every other week. We’ll still be presenting our very popular, ongoing series “Janome’s Magical Machine Mystery Tour” in the alternate weeks, so be sure to FOLLOW us so you don’t miss a post!

Don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE presentation, though. They’ll be stored in the IGTV icon on the Janome HQ Instagram Page and later posted as videos on the Janome HQ You Tube channel. A new Playlist, “Ask Janome HQ” has been created so you can easily find all the presentations there if you miss a LIVE presentation or don’t have an Instagram account.

Follow us on the Janome HQ Facebook page to see what’s new at our Janome Canada Headquarters, our Janome HQ!

Happy Sewing and #sharethejanomelove!

Today’s Facebook LIVE – Ruler Quilting!

We know from all your marvelous feedback that sew many of you look forward to our fabulous Celine’s regular Tuesday Facebook LIVE on the Janome Sewing Machines Facebook page.

There’s not much which will keep Celine away from her machine, but alas, life gets in the way sometimes, so Celine will not be doing a LIVE presentation today. BUT, do not despair!

Janome America educator, Kate Quinn will be stepping in to give you tips on Ruler Quilting. From set-up, to tools of trade, to sharing tips and techniques for success, Kate walks you through the whole process!

The best part is that there’s a Ruler Foot for almost every Janome sewing machine out there, so it doesn’t matter which machine you have!

Maybe it’s the fabulous NEW Janome Continental M17, the new Top of the Line machine which comes with both the Ruler Foot (QR) AND the fabulous new ASR AcuStitch Regulator and the Industry-first Ruler Foot (ASR-QR)!

Janome Continental M17.

Or, what about the Janome MC15000 Quilt Maker, or Skyline S9 or MC 9850SE? The Janome MC15000 Quilt Maker has the fabulous Ruler Foot (QR) included, but there is a High Shank Ruler Foot, Part Number 202441009 available for the other high shank machines, as well. There is also a Low Shank Ruler Foot, Part Number 202442000 and even a Ruler Foot for the high speed straight stitch models, HD-9 and 16000P, Part Number 767441005.

Janome MC15000 Quilt Maker

Janome Skyline S9

Janome MC9850Special Edition

Maybe you have the Janome Skyline S7. There is a Quilting Kit available for the Skyline machines which has a large extension table ideal to use for Ruler Quilting. Janome has so many choices to make your sewing and quilting easier, so be sure to visit your Janome Dealer for details!

Janome Skyline S7

Check out our handy bilingual Janome Accessories Guide or click on the Accessories Tab on Janome.CA. to find the presser feet and accessories compatible with your machine. Click the Products tab, then scroll down to find “View all Accessories“. Click there to access the Search Box or to scroll through the pages to find the accessories you’d like. Click on the picture/description to find the Part Number and machine compatibility. And, as always, check with your fabulous Janome Dealer!

Bilingual Janome Accessories Guide on the Janome.CA website

Don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE. All of the presentations will be saved under the Videos tab of the Janome Sewing Machines Facebook page. Use the Search Box to find all the videos with Celine Ross to find all her presentations.

Don’t have a Facebook account, don’t worry, they will be uploaded to the Janome HQ You Tube channel under the Facebook Live playlist to enjoy whenever you wish!

Happy Sewing!